City Council OKs Reso to Intensify Enforcement of Bacolod’s Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance

In response to continuing smoking violations in schools, public utility jeepneys (PUJs), terminals, hospitals, plazas, and other public places, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod has approved a resolution urging the City Government to reinvigorate and intensify the enforcement of the city’s Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance through a coordinated multi-agency effort.

The resolution, authored by Councilor Atty. Caesar Z. Distrito, calls on the Office of the City Mayor to strengthen the implementation of City Ordinance No. 641, Series of 2013, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Bacolod City Anti-Smoking Ordinance, particularly in and around school premises, PUJs, PUJ terminals, the downtown area, hospital grounds, public plazas, gasoline stations, and other public places where smoking is prohibited.

Distrito said the measure was prompted by persistent reports and public observations of individuals smoking in areas regularly accessed by students, commuters, patients, and the general public despite existing prohibitions under city and national laws.

“More than a decade after the enactment of our Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance, we continue to see violations in places where smoking is clearly prohibited. This resolution seeks to ensure that the ordinance is not only on paper but is consistently enforced for the protection of public health,” Distrito said.

The resolution emphasizes that every Bacolodnon has the right to breathe clean air and be protected from the harmful effects of tobacco smoke and secondhand smoke, particularly children, students, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, patients, and other vulnerable sectors of society.

Distrito noted that smoking continues to be observed even in school premises, including covered sidewalks, waiting areas, and other locations frequented by students, exposing minors and non-smokers to secondhand smoke.

The resolution likewise highlights continued violations in and around public utility jeepneys and terminals despite prohibitions under City Ordinance No. 641, Republic Act No. 9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003, and Executive Order No. 26 establishing smoke-free environments in public enclosed places.

“The continued presence of smoking in public places undermines the objectives of our smoke-free policies and poses unnecessary health risks to the public. We owe it to our children, commuters, patients, and all Bacolodnons to ensure that these laws are properly implemented,” Distrito added.

Under the approved resolution, the City Mayor is urged to direct and coordinate the efforts of the City Legal Office Enforcement Team, Public Order and Safety Office (POSO), City Health Office (CHO), Bacolod Traffic and Transport Management Department (BTTMD), barangay officials and authorized barangay enforcement personnel, and the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) in conducting regular anti-smoking enforcement operations and monitoring activities throughout the city.

The measure also encourages intensified public information and education campaigns, the installation and maintenance of highly visible “No Smoking” signage, and the consistent apprehension and issuance of citations against violators in accordance with existing laws and ordinances.

“This resolution is not simply about issuing penalties. It is about protecting public health, promoting responsible behavior, and ensuring that our public spaces remain safe, healthy, and smoke-free for everyone,” Distrito said.*